For years, she had chased after Jay with relentless persistence, convinced that he was the one she wanted. But now, for the first time in her life, she realized she had been running in the wrong direction all along.

And the one she was supposed to be running toward?

He was walking away.

Not anymore.

Aarav wasn’t easy to find.

He wasn’t coming to college, wasn’t replying to texts, and no one seemed to know where he had been going. It was like he had vanished from her world entirely.

But if there was one thing Tanya Kapoor was good at, it was chasing after what she wanted.

And this time, she was chasing him.

She spent the next few days looking for clues—checking places he used to frequent, asking Daksh vague questions without revealing too much, even subtly bringing him up in conversations with Esha.

But nothing.

Until one evening, when she finally got a lead.

Daksh let it slip that Aarav had been spending time at the old basketball court near his neighborhood. It wasn’t a place they usually hung out, which made sense—he was avoiding her.

So that’s where she went.

The moment she stepped onto the court, she spotted him.

Aarav was alone, dribbling a basketball, lost in his own world. The sun was setting behind him, casting a golden glow over everything.

Tanya felt her heart race.

She had spent years ignoring him, pushing him away without even realizing it. But now, standing there watching him, she knew—she had never felt this way about anyone before.

Not even Jay.

Taking a deep breath, she walked toward him.

Aarav glanced up at the sound of her footsteps, his expression immediately guarded. He caught the ball and let it rest under his arm. “Tanya.”

She swallowed. “Hey.”

Silence.

Aarav turned his attention back to the hoop, taking a shot. The ball swished through the net effortlessly.

Tanya hesitated, then walked closer. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

Aarav let out a small, humorless laugh. “Didn’t think you’d notice.”

She flinched. “Of course, I noticed.”

“Really?” He turned to face her fully. “Because for years, you never did.”

Her chest tightened. “I know.”

Aarav exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Tanya, why are you here?”

Her fingers curled into fists. Because I miss you. Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because I was wrong all this time.

But she wasn’t ready to say all that. Not yet.

Instead, she picked up the basketball and twirled it in her hands. “Play a game with me.”

Aarav raised an eyebrow. “You don’t play basketball.”

She grinned. “I do now.”

He sighed, clearly torn, but then shook his head. “Tanya—”

“If I win,” she cut him off, “you have to stop avoiding me.”

Aarav studied her, his gaze unreadable. Then, with a slight smirk, he took the ball from her hands. “And if I win?”

She thought for a second. “Then… I’ll leave you alone.”

He tilted his head. “You sure about that?”

No. She wasn’t sure about anything except that she didn’t want to let him go.

But she nodded anyway.

Aarav bounced the ball once, then handed it back to her. “Alright. First to five.”

It was a disaster.

Tanya had never played basketball in her life, and it showed. She barely managed to dribble without losing control, and every time she tried to shoot, the ball went in the opposite direction.

Aarav, on the other hand, was effortless—moving around her with ease, scoring points like it was second nature.

By the time he reached four points and she still had zero, she was out of breath and completely humiliated.

But she refused to give up.

With sheer determination, she tried again—running toward the hoop, attempting a layup.

She missed.

Again.

Aarav sighed. “Tanya—”

“No!” she interrupted, panting. “I’m not done yet.”

Aarav watched her, something softening in his expression.

She tried one more time, putting everything she had into the shot.

And missed.

But this time, Aarav caught the rebound and, instead of shooting, he walked up to her.

He reached out, gently placing the basketball in her hands. “Here,” he murmured. “I’ll help you.”

Before she could react, he moved behind her, his arms brushing against hers as he guided her hands into the correct position.

Tanya’s breath hitched.

His warmth, his closeness—everything about this moment made her heart pound.

“Just relax,” he said softly. “Aim higher.”

She nodded, barely able to focus.

Aarav’s voice was lower now, barely above a whisper. “Now… let go.”

She did.

The ball went in.

Tanya gasped, turning to him excitedly. “Did you see that?”

Aarav chuckled. “Yeah. You actually made one.”

She grinned, feeling a strange mix of pride and something else—something deeper.

Aarav took a step back, but the warmth of his presence lingered.

Tanya met his gaze, and for the first time, she saw it—the way he used to look at her. The way he used to wait for her.

And this time, she wasn’t going to make him wait anymore.

“Aarav,” she whispered.

His smile faltered slightly, as if he already knew what she was about to say. “Tanya…”

She took a deep breath. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”

His eyes flickered with something unreadable. “Tanya, don’t—”

“I know I don’t deserve a second chance,” she cut in, her voice trembling. “I know I hurt you, and I know I should have realized this sooner. But I’m here now. And I—” She swallowed. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Aarav’s hands clenched at his sides. He looked away for a moment, as if debating whether to believe her.

Finally, he exhaled. “Tanya… you can’t just decide you want me now because I stopped wanting you.”

Her heart ached at the words. “That’s not why,” she whispered.

Aarav studied her for a long moment. Then, without another word, he turned and started walking away.

Tanya panicked.

Without thinking, she grabbed his wrist.

Aarav froze.

“I’m not giving up on you,” she said, her grip tightening. “Not this time.”

For a second, neither of them moved.

Then, Aarav slowly turned to face her, his expression unreadable.

The game wasn’t over yet.